Thicke’s ‘Miley Cyrus marriage fiasco’

Robin Thicke’s controversial VMAs show was reportedly a “big test” for his marriage.

Although Paula Patton publicly defended Robin at the time for his raunchy MTV Video Music Awards performance last August with Miley Cyrus, it seems she was not happy about the controversial act.

Robin apparently pleaded with her to stand by him as the media furore took hold.

“The Miley Cyrus fiasco was a big test of their relationship,” a source told Us Weekly.

“He asked her to help him out as a friend and a wife, and defend him and the performance. He begged her to speak out for him and be there for him. She agreed to be the good wife after he begged and pleaded. Then he asked her to stick with him through awards season, and she agreed. She attended the Grammys with him as a favor.”

Paula certainly sounded supportive at the time, saying she was fully aware of what the performance would entail. According to the Baggage Claim star, Robin and Miley were simply artists doing their job.

“They rehearsed for three days. Robin told me in advance,” Paula said on a September 18 Today show appearance. “I thought it was great. I’m not that uptight. I’m not a traditionalist. We’re both artists and I want him to express himself however he feels, and he let’s me do the same.”

While both Paula and Robin enjoy successful professional lives, it seems this was one of the factors in the breakdown of their marriage.

“They’re both at the top of their careers right now and they’re never together. She’s filming in Canada and he’s on tour,” a source told People magazine. “They do love each other. They’ll continue to be friends.”

Paula announced on Monday she and Robin were separating after being married nearly nine years.